Boating Etiquette
General Boating
Give other boats plenty of room. If another boat is fishing, give them as much space as possible. 300 yards is a good minimum. Since water travels 4.5 faster in water than in air, a boat passing close will disrupt fish behavior and negatively impact the fishing.
Don't run your boat in areas too shallow for your draft (including the propellor and skeg), especially in seagrass beds. This can cause propellor scarring of the seagrass, which may take decades to recover (if ever).
Don't anchor in seagrass or coral reefs (anchor in sandy spots). The anchor damages seagrass, and this damage may take years to recover (if ever).
Make sure your engine is in good working order - no oil or fuel leaks. These can cause serious damage to fish habitats.
Flats FishingDon't run the flats in your boat. Running over fish disturbs them, and makes them more wary of boats and less likely to eat a lure, fly, or bait. If run over too much, the fish will change behaviors (in some places redfish no longer tail, for example), or leave entirely. We've actually found redfish dead from being hit by a boat propellor (the prop-marks are obvious). Since redfish are bottom dwellers, this means the boat was running in extremely shallow water. Boat responsibly, don't run the flats!
Running too shallow also kills seagrass when the propellor digs a trough through the grass bed. In many cases, the seagrass will not grow back for many years.
When Tarpon FishingTo avoid shutting down the bite and to show respect for other anglers, follow these simple rules:
- When under way, always give a wide berth — at least several hundred yards — to any boat with anglers actively tarpon fishing. The boat may be idling or stopped with anglers looking for tarpon; the crew may be tracking a school or actively casting.
- Don't run your outboard motor where people are fishing for tarpon or tarpon have been spotted. A running outboard, even at idle, shuts off the bite and may push the fish to other locations. When you have the option to run a trolling motor or pole, choose the pole. The quieter your presence, the closer the tarpon will come to the boat and the better chance you have that one will eat a fly, lure or bait.
- If you see fish moving along the beach or another pathway, don't cut off another boat that may be waiting on these fish. Take a position well clear of other boats and wait for the tarpon to move toward your location.
- If you're near another boat that hooks a fish, stay clear of the line. If necessary, move out of the way and then back to the area holding fish once the angler and boat are clear.
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